The best Father's Day gifts for foodie dads: 2017 edition

Entertain your old man's Food Network aspirations with these culinary-inspired Father's Day presents.

So, your dad's been watching a ton of Chopped lately, and has been hitting his French fries with the Salt Bae routine. Concerning, we know—but, hey, why not humor him? Who knows? With the right tools, he may be able to hone his craft behind the stove to respectable levels.

This Father's Day, it's up to you to treat him to tools that will take his cooking ability from TV dinners to Food Network. These gifts are sure to turn out better than they did for Curtis Stone, chef and owner of L.A. hot spots Maude and Gwen, and his dad: "The worst Father's Day gift I ever gave was a barbeque set I gifted my dad," says Stone. "He's a terrible cook and manages to incinerate everything he puts on the grill. I thought he'd like the tools and it would inspire him a bit, but he ended up giving them back to me."

1. Nachtmann Highland Tumblers by Riedel

A set of these stylish, crystal clear tumblers—made by high-end Austrian glassware-maker Riedel—will bring a modern touch to any lackluster, or long-forgotten, bar cart. Cheers to you, dad. —Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($40 for a set of four, riedelusa.net)

3. Pressure cooker by Lagostina

This stainless-steel pressure cooker by Lagostina is perfect for the health-conscious foodie who’s always in a hurry. Not only will this pressure cooker have your meal ready in half the time of ordinary cookware, it also preserves up to 35% more of the food’s nutrients. —Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($249.95,williams-sonoma.com)

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4. The Japanese Santoku Knife

When it comes to high-quality chef’s knives, the Japanese make some of the best in the world. This triple-laminate knife—forged in Sanjo, Japan—has stainless surface layers with a high-carbon core, making it the perfect balance of precision and durability. —Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($128, bestmadeco.com)

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5. Bistro His Apron by Waterworks

Every serious cook needs a chef’s apron, and if your dad practically lives in the kitchen and is lacking one of his own, this is the apron to gift him. The Bistro His Apron is one-size-fits-all, made with durable waxed canvas, and features a towel ring with multiple storage pockets. —Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($185, waterworks.com)

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6. GX5000 Professional Electric Coffee Burr Grinder by Krups

This electric coffee burr grinder is perfect for the coffee-obsessed dad who is tired of using lackluster pre-ground beans or buying an overpriced cup of joe from a coffeehouse chain. This grinder, with its burr mill system and nine adjustable grind levels, is about as tough and versatile as you’ll find in this price range. —Erin Alexander, editorial assistant ($49.88, amazon.com)

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7. Master of the Grill Apron by 5.11

Whether your dad is into firearms or just enjoys a good war flick every now and then, the aptly named Master of the Grill Apron is the perfect choice for the resident pitmaster. Though it won’t stop hot lead, it’s tough enough to keep BBQ sauce and meat splatter from soiling his Sunday best, and its multiple pockets will allow pops to tuck away tongs while giving him a spot for parking his smartphone. Molle webbing and a Velcro patch give the more military-minded places for martial customization. —Adam Bible, contributing editor ($49.99, 511tactical.com)

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8. Yoshihiro 8.25" Gyuto Japanese Chef’s Knife

Nothing commands respect in the kitchen like a damn good chef’s knife, and chef’s knives don’t get much better than this katana of a blade from the famed Japanese bladesmiths at Yoshihiro. Forged and hammered Damascus-style from 46 layers of VG-10 steel—arguably the highest-quality metal you could ever ask for in a kitchen knife—the only thing this rosewood-handled masterpiece needs is a master chef to wield it. “Gyuto” literally means “beef sword” in Japanese—so let this be your father’s Excalibur. —Michael Rodio, senior digital editor ($279.99 with Toishi sharpening whetstone and wooden sheath, echefknife.com)

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9. Akorn 20” Kamado grill by Char-Griller

Your dad has probably already heard of the Kamado charcoal grill revolution slowly creeping across the U.S., courtesy of the green egg-shaped cookers popping up at hardware stores. Kamados are an ancient Japanese style of grill based on cooking pots, and Char-Griller recently stepped into the market with its own version of the very pricey grills. It's made with three walls of steel instead of heavy ceramic for much lighter construction, which still gives you even and long-lasting heat, and comes with a cast iron grill grate and folding side shelves. —Adam Bible, contributing editor ($299, chargriller.com)

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10. Grillbot Grill-Cleaning Robot

Who loves cleaning a messy, grimy backyard grill? Nobody. Enter the Grillbot, the award-winning Roomba-type robot you let loose on the grill’s surface, then watch as it scrubs away every bit of burnt-on grit. It was even one of Oprah’s picks, and you know she doesn’t mess around. — Nina Combs, senior editor (Bundle with case and brush, $139.95,grillbots.com)